On November 15, 2020, the Glendale Environmental Coalition hosted an online panel discussion on environmental justice, Environmental Racism and Climate Justice in Glendale, hosted by Dr. Michael Méndez, a professor of environmental policy and planning at the University of California, Irvine and author of the book Climate Change from the Streets, published through Yale University Press (2020)*, with local Glendale activists Ash Rosas, former hub coordinator for Sunrise Movement LA; Alek Bartrosouf, co-founder of Walk Bike Glendale, and Tanita Harris-Ligons, co-founder of Black in Glendale. The panel explored the intersection of environmental harms with social justice as well as questions on how to address equity issues in Glendale.

Topics included what the term “environmental justice” means, the environmental justice issues that are of the greatest concern in our community today, who is most likely to suffer the effects of environmental racism, and how a community can begin to initiate climate justice reform.

If you weren’t able to make the event, you can now view it here (above), or share this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pndnkXD3exI

We hope this panel was a first step towards continued community building. We’d like to hear your suggestions and ideas on ways we can continue this conversation, so feel free to reach out to us anytime at contact@gec.eco.

We are grateful to the co-sponsors of this event and thank them for their partnership:

• Adams Hill Neighborhood Association
• Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America
• Black in Glendale
• Civic Sundays
• Coalition for an Anti-Racist Glendale
• Glendale Parks and Open Space Foundation
• League of Women Voters of Los Angeles
• Verdugo Hills Group of the Sierra Club
• Volunteers Organized in Conserving the Environment
• YWCA Glendale

* If you’re interested in further reading on the subject of environmental justice, we recommend Dr. Michael Méndez’s book, Climate Change from the Streets, published through Yale University Press (2020), which you can get through this link. When ordering, use promo code YECLS to receive 25% off.